Ever since I got my hands on the Rally Expansion pack on Forza Horizon, not only I also got five rally cars and the whole Colorado's gone rally-mad, but because of my ownership of Horizon's Season Pass, I also got myself the keys for the Season Pass bonus car for the month of December, a 2003 Ford SVT Focus. Lovely, isn't it and because the Focus was born with rally racing in mind ever since it replaced the legendary Escort Cosworth in the World Rally Championship, this would be worth the effort for players who want to put some rally touches on this SVT model based on the first generation Focus.
This is a Ford Focus Electric. Sure, it looks like the current generation Focus but it sports a Ford family face at the front of it. Because it's an electric car, it's being powered by a combination of the 100kW electric motor and a 23kWh lithium-ion battery pack. It promises about a combined fuel economy equivalent at 105 MPGe (2.2 L/100 km), with an equivalent 110 MPGe (2.1 L/100 km) in city driving and 99 MPGe (2.4 L/100 km) on highways. It's 3 miles longer than the Nissan Leaf.
Anyway, what I thought I'll do is compare the Focus Electric to a rival, a competitive product of some sort. Producer-san liked that idea so what I thought I would do is by bringing...this.
2013 Ford Focus ST
It's the Focus ST. A powerhouse of hotness and some troublemaking fun in every corner thanks to its 2.0L 4-cylinder engine that generates 252HP of power. I think it's better looking than the Focus Electric and of course, it's better than almost everything. This is insanely more like a Ford Focus that spent several days drinking too much bottles of Regain energy drink. No wait...Monster? Rockstar? Never mind. This car feels like it's been fueled by the sweet smell of energy drinks. It's autistic! An autistic Ford Focus! 0-100kph takes about 6.7 seconds, flatout in 245kph, and ADHD for the rest of your life because, you'll be autistic before, during, and after driving it!
Of course, because the Ford Focus ST is now a global high-performance car ideal for the world market, it's a bit half-cocked. And sure, the interior is a bit mental as other hot hatches from Europe, this car begs us belief.
In terms of handling, it isn't a bit as dynamic as a muscle car, as standard as a Nissan GTR, it's a bit...well, MILD. Mild and menacing. Mild's the exact opposite of Dynamic because it's so easy to handle thanks to its FF powertrain. It's a great car though, like a young woman wearing a some one-piece Asics racing swimwear. But how does it compare to the Focus Electric?
Well, in the number of reasons...not well. Sure, the Focus Electric has SYNC, airbag, five seats, and a bigger boot. The ST is pretty much the same as well. The Focus Electric costs $39,200 MSRP while the ST costs about $23,700 MSRP. The Electric maybe more expensive than the ST but it's more economical.
Choosing which Focuses is not all fun and games. Sure, the Focus Electric did well but I think on balance, I'd chose the big yellow autistic one instead...
Sadly, we don't have to hear any more of that because we have to head back playing Forza Motorsport 4. And this...
Sure, the McLaren can kick the Focus RS's but on the track but what about on a public road?!
It's a 2009 Ford Focus RS. It has a 2.5L turbocharged 5-cylinder engine that produces three times more than what you got from the old VW Rabbit GTi. You can't just send 300HP to the front because it might come off but Focus RS has a special suspension feature called "Revo-Knuckles". How does Revo-Knuckles work? Set aside, call James May and serve some tea because...just like Jeremy Clarkson, I don't know how does Revo-Knuckles feel like on the 2009 Ford Focus RS.
Whatever. The Revo-Knuckles allows the 2009 Ford Focus RS to handle the bends and sling shot its way down the next straight although it's been powered by ammo-nitrate. There are some people say that there are so many opponents that can match the RS’s competence on track or its fun-to-drive factor. I may have said that once but is it true?
Contrary, that car appeared in one episode of Top Gear against the Renault Megane R26.R, a stripped-up version of the Renault Megane which Forza 4 doesn't have one. The Focus RS lapped the Top Gear test track in 1.29.3 but it was beaten by the Renault Megane R26.R's 1.28.1 lap time.
Then, this car was featured on Jeremy Clarkson's DVD, Duel. He had a race against The Stig and the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder round the Ascari Race Resort and then the Focus RS lost by a mega huge margin. Not only that, gets worse. The Focus RS lost the race from Ascari Race Resort to a bar in Puerto Banus.
Despite that, the 2009 Ford Focus RS is a brilliant hot hatch but that's all it is...
Racer and Top Gear USA presenter, Tanner Foust, visits the Homestead-Miami Speedway to check out the Ford Focus ST-R in motion. We sure know that this race-ready Focus is just one of the things Tanner Foust's been excited about. Check out the clip:
The all new 2013 Ford Focus ST was premiered at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and it doesn't go on sale until next year but that doesn't stop a game like Forza Motorsport 4 to feature this global performance vehicle that was under the One Ford approach.
This hatchback has the heart of the Mustang
Firstly, when Forza 4 came out last month, most players are getting curious about the mystery car appeared on the North American Autocross C-Class event. Players knew that it was the 2013 Focus ST and complaining to Turn 10 how did such an easter egg happened in the Event List section. The problem has been resolved with the launch of the November Speed DLC and thanks to this DLC, the 2013 Ford Focus ST was there. Problem solved, everyone can try it first before the actual model come out soon. Unfortunately, the 2013 Focus ST not classified as a C-class car but it was a B-class car. That makes it a weird gap how did that thing happened. Never mind, what matters is that we finally tried the third-generation Focus, in ST form.
The Stig tries out the prototype Focus ST
on The Top Gear Test Track!
Surprisingly though, the handling of the 2013 Focus ST is very awful even though it was a a turbocharged hot hatchback built for the world. Tuning it can even worsen the handling and if I'm not careful, this would be a devastating opportunity for me to drive this car. I guess I should ask Ford why did they're not careful about the new ST but don't worry. What we seen here on Forza 4 was just a pre-production model. You should better thank the guys that they brought the new 2013 Focus ST here before the actual model arrives next year for evaluation purposes.
Ford Focus ST-R works out at Laguna Seca
So, the 2013 Ford Focus ST is a perfectly balanced blend of refined engineering and undliuted adrenaline, but this turns out to be not so balanced blend of unresponsive handling, redundancy of being a FF hot hatch, and it signifying nothing. Maybe for those who own it on Forza 4, they should need to think the good setup to perfect the 2013 Focus ST's handling so they will stop ending up the same experience as I am.
*Pre-production Model Shown. Actual model may vary.
The third-generation Ford Focus is now a global vehicle, meaning that North American and international markets get the same new look as part of the One Ford program.
With the Europe market offered in three trims; sedan, hatch and station wagon, the North American Focus Mk.3 offers only two body styles; a 4-door sedan and a 5-door hatchback. What matters most is that the world is all one for the all-new, third-generation, Ford Focus.
The exterior of the new Ford Focus was inspired from the Ford Fiesta, providing some aggressive stance and European design suitable for the sophomores who are looking for something that is highly competitive against the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Mazda Axela/3, Mitsubishi Galant Fortis/Lancer, Subaru Impreza, or even the Kia Forte/Cerato and the Hyundai Avante/Elantra.
The interior of the new global Focus is highly improved to make it premium with some added premium features suitable for the savvy drivers. The available 8-inch LCD touch screen with MyFord Touch system is made for those who need to look for some directions, stay up-to-date with the latest news, or just listening to some music.
The global Focus comes with the new 2.0L Ti-VCT GDI I-4 engine that gains a power output of 160hp/6500rpm, torque output of 146lb. ft. /4450rpm, and it has a fuel economy of 36mpg highway on the 5-speed manual grade and 38mpg highway on the 6-speed PowerShift automatic with SelectShift manual control. In some states, an available Partial Zero Emission engine option for the 2.0L Ti-VCT GDI l-4 engine is available to make it more of an American eco-car.
The global Focus comes with the new Electronic Power Assist Steering (EPAS), which is great on your cornering preferences and with the Pull-Drift Compensation technology, you'll find less hassles on turning various corners. To eliminate the causes of under-steering, the new Torque Vectoring Control system is added for transferring the torque for optimum grip. Other cornering enhancers include the AdvanceTrac Electronic Stability Control, anti-lock brakes, and sport-tuned suspension.
My thoughts about the Focus:
Finally, the new third-generation Focus is now made to be a global vehicle, settling the differences since the 2nd-generation Focus that has separate tastes from the US and in the global market. Thanks to the One Ford program, this latest Focus is made to make it "The world is all one", providing some world class design, world class performance, and everything world class to appeal most drivers who had it with their Corollas, Civics, or even the Chevrolet Cruze as well!
I expect that this new global Focus will hit the Philippines soon if FGP has the chance.
